Fact Sheet: Implementation of New or Revised National Ambient
Air Quality Standards for Particle Pollution

On February 3, 2006, EPA provided an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking (ANPR) for implementation of the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particle pollution (PM) which the
Agency proposed on January 17,
2006.

The purpose of the ANPR is to assure stakeholders that EPA is
aware of and is considering the multiple issues associated with
implementing any revised PM fine standards, and possible new PM
coarse standards that may result from the January proposal. The
ANPR also announces that the Agency will seek comment on key implementation
issues to ensure that stakeholders points view are considered
as EPA develops implementation plans.

In the ANPR, EPA is providing potential timelines (below) for
both the revised PM fine and PM coarse standards for designations,
State Implementation Plan submittal, and attainment dates.

The ANPR recognizes that no final decision has been made concerning
whether or how to revise the existing PM standards, but address
various implementation issues in the event they are revised.

In the ANPR, EPA also highlights and provides preliminary thinking
on how to address some of the key New Source Review issues related
to the proposed new PM coarse standard and the transition from
a PM10 to a PM coarse standard.

The ANPR solicits comments on how to best implement the transition
from the current PM fine to the proposed revised PM fine standard,
and from the PM10 standard to the proposed new PM coarse standard.
It also requests comments on various issues related to revocation
of the current PM fine standard, and the PM10 standard where it
remains.

EPA will take public comment on or before April 10, 2006. Based
on comments, EPA will then determine a schedule for proposal
of implementation
plans for the new PM standards.

POTENTIAL TIMELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING
THE STANDARDS

The Jan 17 proposal stated that the final rule would be published
in Sept 2006. Two implementation schedules would apply (one for
PM2.5 and another for PM10-2.5) if EPA revises the PM NAAQS at that
time.

Possible Timeline for Fine Particles (PM2.5)

Effective date of standard: December 2006

Using monitoring data from 2005-2007, states would make recommendations
by December 2007 for areas to be designated attainment and nonattainment.

EPA would make final designations by December 2009; those designations
would become effective in April 2010.

State Implementation Plans, outlining how states will reduce
pollution to meet the standards, would be due three years after
designations, in April 2013.

States would have to meet the standards by April 2015.

In some cases, a state could receive additional time to meet
the standard (up to April 2020).

Possible Timeline for Inhalable Coarse Particles (PM 10-2.5)

EPA would not designate attainment and nonattainment areas until
it has three consecutive years of monitoring data showing PM10-2.5
levels. The Agency anticipates that data will be available in
2012 (2009-2011 data).

States would make recommendations in July 2012 for areas to
be designated attainment and nonattainment.

EPA would make final designations in May 2013; those designations
would become effective in July 2013.

State Implementation Plans would be due three years after designations,
in July 2016.

States would have to meet the standards by July 2018.

In some cases, a state could receive additional time to meet
the standard (up to July 2023).

BACKGROUND

The Clean Air Act directs EPA to set NAAQS
for pollutants that the Agency has listed as "criteria pollutants,"
based on their likelihood of causing adverse effects to public
health and welfare. EPA sets national air quality standards for
six common air pollutants: ground-level ozone (smog), carbon monoxide,
lead, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.

The Act requires EPA to revise the health and welfare-based
standards once every five years to determine whether revisions
to the standards are necessary to provide the appropriate levels
of protection.

Once a standard is set, then the Agency must determine the best
means of implementing that standard. EPA is currently proposing
implementation rules for the 1997 PM fine standard.

On December 20, 2005, EPA issued revisions to the particulate
matter NAAQS. These proposed revisions were published in the Federal
Register on January 17, 2006.

The proposed revisions address two categories of particulate
matter: fine particles which are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and
smaller; and inhalable coarse particles, which are smaller than
10 micrometers in diameter but larger than PM2.5. EPA has had
national air quality standards for fine particles since 1997 and
for coarse particles 10 micrometers and smaller (PM10) since 1987.

Today's proposed action and other background information are
also available either electronically at the federal
government's docket management system, or in hard copy at
EPA West, U.S. EPA (6102T), 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington,
DC 20460. (Docket ID No. OAR-2005-0175). The Public Reading Room
is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room
is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air and Radiation
Docket and Information Center is (202) 566-1742.

HOW TO COMMENT

Comments will be accepted on or before
April 10, 2006. All comments should be identified by Docket ID
No. OAR-2005-0175 and submitted by one of the following
methods: